Scammers are using QR codes to trick Houstonians—how to spot the signs

November 16, 2025 – Published on The Houston Chronicle

Cybersecurity experts are warning Houstonians to think twice before they scan that next QR code.

Jerry O’Brien, a partner at GuidePoint Security based in The Woodlands, told Chron that scammers are increasingly using “quishing”—short for QR code phishing—to lure people into visiting fake websites and giving up personal information.

“We’ve been dealing with cybercriminals taking advantage of QR codes for years now,” O’Brien said. “But the use of QR codes has exploded. We use them for returns, boarding passes, paying at parking meters, menus at restaurants—they’re everywhere! And anytime we’re in a hurry or familiar with something, that’s what scammers take advantage of.”

O’Brien pointed to incidents in the Houston area where fake QR codes have been placed on parking meters or even printed onto parking tickets. O’Brien said the scammers are capitalizing on situations that incite panic and could keep even the most vigilant individual from doing their due diligence.

The scam works because it’s easy to pull off. Criminals simply create a fake QR code that redirects to a website designed to steal data or payments. Current corporate email filters can’t automatically detect malicious QR links the way they do regular hyperlinks.

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